sample

[jmarx13]

After fermentation and before bottling is it ok to taste a small sample to get an idea as to what it might taste like? Or is just a bad idea?

 

[Snowblind258]

I did that today when I bottled, from what I've read / watched on YouTube this is normal.

 

[jekeane]

You should be taking a gravity reading to know that it is time to bottle. There is no reason to not drink your sample to get an idea of what your beer may taste like. Just remember that your beer can change dramatically based on carbonation and the time left in the bottle. You wont get a good idea of what you really made for at least 3 weeks in the bottle.

 

[MikePote]

What he said.

I ALWAYS drink my hydro samples. Sometimes I pretend to need a hydro sample to try my fermenting beer (this is a terrible habit for sanitation reasons). As far as taste from pre bottling sample it seems to change drastically when it carbs and most of my normal OG beers don't really seem to be ready until 6 or so weeks in the bottle

 

[jmarx13]

Now the question is do I use priming sugar or some kind fizz drops or prime dose pill?

 

[MikePote]

Although I have only used the sugar pill/drop things once I didn't have good luck with them. My beer was pretty over carbed. I would use 5oz corn sugar boiled in a couple cups of water and add it to the bottling bucket.

 

[taoisilent]

I always taste my sample when I'm taking a reading, why not? Just remember as has been said, in general it is a poor indication of how the finished beer will taste.

I have always had the best results with corn sugar solution in my bottling bucket. I use a calculator to match the style. I tried the fizz drops, and wasn't necessarily unhappy with the results, but I find dropping pills or tabs or whatever into so many bottles just increases the time and aggravation of bottling.